NEWS: July 14, 2016
Public Workforce | The Nation
'High Risk' Seen for Federal Nepotism
Every federal agency should take steps to reduce the potential for nepotism in their ranks, especially during the upcoming transition to a new administration--a particularly "high risk" period for those in positions of authority to show favoritism toward relatives, according to a new Merit Systems Protection Board report.
>> Government Executive
Bill Allows Pay Flexibility for Hard-to-Fill Federal Jobs
Federal agencies having difficulty filling jobs and retaining employees in remote locations would get new flexibilities under legislation introduced in the Senate that would increase agencies' direct hiring authority and approve special pay rates for hard-to-fill positions.
>> Government Executive
Public Officials | The Nation
CIA Director: I'll Resign
If Ordered to Waterboard
CIA Director John Brennan said he would resign if the next president ordered his agency to resume waterboarding suspected militants, an apparent reference to comments by Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump embracing the banned interrogation method. "I'm not going to be the director of CIA that gives that order. They'll have to find another director," said Brennan, who did not mention Trump by name.
>> Reuters
Ex-Oregon Governor Can Withhold Emails, Court Rules
In a setback for federal investigators, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that former Oregon governor John Kitzhaber's personal emails could be withheld from an investigation into whether he used his position to benefit his fiancée.
>> Reuters
Arizona's Former Lottery Chief Accused of Gender Bias
Two women who formerly worked as Arizona Lottery executives sued former director Tony Bouie in federal court, alleging that `he wrongfully fired them and replaced them with male "friends and cronies."
>> Arizona Republic
Human Services | Massachusetts
Audit Slams State over Injuries to Disabled
A scathing federal audit faults state officials for frequently failing to alert authorities when developmentally disabled residents of the state's group homes suffer broken bones, burns and other injuries potentially caused by abuse and neglect. State officials said they disagreed with many of the findings, which they said were overstated.
>> Boston Globe
Cybersecurity | Silicon Valley
GSA Chief Woos Cyber Startups
The General Services Administration wants more innovative cybersecurity companies to sell cutting-edge security technology to the federal government. GSA Administrator Denise Turner Roth is visiting Silicon Valley to promote her agency's ongoing support of governmentwide efforts to bolster cybersecurity and encourage startups to take part.
>> Nextgov, FedScoop
FDIC's CIO Accused of Misleading Congress on Breaches
Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. CIO Larry Gross misled congressional overseers to cover up cybersecurity breaches, retaliated against whistleblowers and created a toxic work environment for his team, Republican congressional staffers allege.
>> FedScoop
Oregon University to Pay $2.7 Million over Data Breach
Oregon Health & Science University has agreed to pay federal authorities $2.7 million for two data breaches in 2013 that involved more than 7,000 patients. OHSU also will enact a "rigorous three-year corrective action plan" as part of a resolution agreement.
>> The Oregonian
Financial Management | The Nation
GAO: Improper Payments Hit $136.7 Million in '15
The federal government made $136.7 billion in improper payments in the 2015 fiscal year, according to a new report by the Government Accountability Office. And the problem is worsening: Last year's total is more than $30 billion greater than the fiscal 2013 amount.
>> Washington Post
Higher Education | Oregon
Ex-Legislative Aide to Lobby for 7 Universities
The presidents of Oregon's seven public universities hired an executive director for a new organization that will lobby for their interests at the legislature: Dana Richardson, deputy director of the state's Higher Education Coordinating Commission and a former legislative director for state Senate President Peter Courtney.
>> The Oregonian
University of Wyoming May See More Staff, Faculty Cuts
The University of Wyoming, which is facing $40 million in reduced state support over the next two years, may have to eliminate more faculty and staff positions if other planned budget cuts do not pan out as expected, UW President Laurie Nichols said.
>> AP/Casper Star Tribune
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>> Share this edition: | Lessons Learned from International Leaders in Performance and Results Management
TODAY | 1 p.m. ET
Presented by ASPA's Center for Accountability and Performance, this webinar will explore current and past performance-management practices, explain how other countries have applied them and offer insights and potential ideas agencies and state and local governments. For more information or to register, click here. |
VIEWPOINT
Public Officials | David M. Walker and Dan Tangherlini
The Kind of Veep We Need
Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are each about to make a decision that could determine the success of more than their campaigns: who they pick as vice president. The person in the No. 2 slot needs to be able to do more than just help the candidate win. That's a bet that hardly ever pays off, anyway. Clinton and Trump should choose running mates who have the ability--and the desire--to play a meaningful role in improving the vast federal bureaucracy's efficiency and effectiveness.
>> USA Today
PLUS: David Chu and G. Edward DeSeve on the top management issues for the new president's team.
>> Government Executive | More commentaries
QUOTABLE
“I don't believe there is a man alive that I respect and appreciate more than Rod.”
An inmate at the federal prison in Colorado where former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich is serving a 14-year sentence for his conviction on corruption charges as he tries to get his sentence reduced, among the comments by many former inmates in 141 pages of letters filed with his court case praising the character of the inmate known to fellow prisoners as "The Gov"
>> Chicago Sun-Times | More quotes
DATAPOINT
55%
Percentage of Americans who favor concentrating power at the state level, compared to 37 percent who prefer concentrating authority with the federal government, according to a recent Gallup Poll whose results were similar to the last time Gallup asked the question, in 1981, but far different from the company's 1936 survey, when 44 percent favored empowering state government and 56 percent favored federal authority
>> Route Fifty | More data
UPCOMING EVENTS
Heritage Foundation
Book lecture: "Obamabomb: The Fraudulent Nuclear Deal with Iran"
Today, noon-1 p.m., Washington, D.C.
American Enterprise Institute, Results for America and Washington Monthly
Discussion: "What Works to Combat Poverty: Lessons from New York City's Center for Economic Opportunity"
Today, 1-2:30 p.m. ET, Washington, D.C.
American Society for Public Administration
Webinar: "Lessons Learned from International Leaders in Performance and Results Management"
Today, 1 p.m. ET
Brookings Institution
Discussion: "The Future of the Global Economic Order in an Era of Rising Populism"
Today, 3:30-5 p.m. ET, Washington, D.C.
Alliance for Innovation
Transforming Local Government Conference
July 15-17, St. Paul, Minn.
Association of Government Accountants
Professional Development Training Conference
July 17-20, Anaheim, Calif.
American Federation of Teachers
Annual Convention
July 18-21, Minneapolis
Government Technology
Public CIO Technology Summit
July 19-20, St. Louis
>> Full events listings
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